Among the many important topics residents will have to consider at March’s Annual Town Meeting will be two issues which could have far-reaching effects on the Harvard of the future: building a town center sewage system and agreeing on a process by which Finance Committee members are selected.

After years of talk about solving the septic issues in town center, it appears that the town is actually poised for action. At its last meeting, the Board of Selectmen appointed a task force to identify the specific actions needed to create a town center sewer area, along with the associated costs, with a goal of presenting a warrant article at ATM to fund the project design. The task force has a tight timeline for completing its work. We hope that residents will keep close tabs on this process as it unfolds, will ask questions and air their concerns along the way, and will go to ATM prepared to vote in favor of a town center septic solution. It is the key to solving the question of what to do with the old library; it is key to opening options for Town Hall, the old fire station and Hildreth House; it is key to having the General Store become all we hope it will be. It is the key to restoring vitality to town center.

Another committee, established by a vote at this year’s ATM, is researching options for the selection of Finance Committee members. Some residents have felt disenfranchised by the current process, which has the town moderator appointing committee members and does not place limits on how many terms a person can serve. This study committee also has a goal of presenting recommendations at the next ATM, after investigating the processes other towns use and gathering public input.

It is certain that the question of how the town spends its money will continue to be paramount, as costs for town services escalate and costs for state mandates spiral without offsetting state funding. Townspeople need to have confidence in the recommendations of their Finance Committee. Energy spent attacking the messengers could be better spent in a unified approach to solving the town’s fiscal problems, through making tough spending decisions at home and lobbying the state for change. So we hope residents will also get behind this process and voice questions and concerns at every opportunity. Only a handful of residents attended the study committee’s public forum last week; there will be another opportunity for public input in January. We hope residents will take advantage of it, get involved, and make their voices heard.